Animals & livestock

Bird feeders, suet, seed. Here's what you need to know about feeding wild birds. A tufted titmouse snags a seed from a bird feeder. | Photo by Aislinn Sarnacki Bird feeders attract life to a property, especially during the quiet…
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Photo by Gabor Degre Hailing originally from the South American Andes, llamas and alpacas may seem like exotic additions to a homestead or small farm. But these camelids can be a natural fit for the homesteading lifestyle. Though…
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Most people do not think of turkeys as backyard fowl, but they can be. Should you add the gobbling bird to your homestead? Photo by Troy Bennett “A lot of people who choose to raise them because they’re going to eat them at…
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A chicken-sized bird originating from Africa, the guinea fowl is prized by many farmers and homesteaders throughout the United States for its ability to consume vast quantities of bugs, including garden pests and disease-ridden ticks. The…
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Highland cattle |Photo courtesy of the Livestock Conservancy If you were to visit a large commercial farm, you might leave under the impression that all chickens, cows and pigs look exactly the same. But livestock isn’t limited to those…
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Considering raising quail? Here's what you should know to get started on this breed that's good for meat, eggs and game birds. Quail chicks in a brooder box. | David Herrington Quail many not be the first fowl you think of when…
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Worried about coyotes preying on your poultry and pets? Here's what you should know and how to keep coyotes away from your homestead. Photo by KS42Day on Morguefile Many homesteaders worry about protecting their animals from coyotes.…
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A poultry first aid kit is necessary for poultry keepers to administer basic first aid when chickens, ducks and more need it. Here's how to make one. Pet nail clippers allow backyard poultry keepers to clip the nails of their birds if…
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Gabor Degre Backyard poultry keepers must keep their flock safe from infectious diseases. This is a top priority for a homesteader or anyone involved in raising chickens, turkeys, ducks or any of the fowl used for their eggs or meat. …
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Many homesteaders have not heard of the Muscovy. If you are a backyard fowl enthusiast, you may want to add this quirky bird to your flock. A group of muscovies at Metzer Farms in Gonzales, California. | Photo courtesy of John Metzer …
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Whether you are looking for guard dogs, herding dogs, security dogs or some other farm dog, these breeds are your best bets. Ashley Conti Farm dogs are often essential members of livestock operations, providing much-needed services…
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Interested in raising geese on your homestead? Primarily kept as pets, geese are intelligent, relatively self-sufficient and pretty hardy. Geese foraging in the grass. | Gabor Degre When most of us think of geese, we envision burly,…
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